THE BEET. 187 



The labor in this mode is great, and is not all the in- 

 convenience ; for the beets are injured by being ex- 

 posed, and the small fibres are torn asunder. 



The second mode, also, has some objections. It is 

 very easy to scatter the seed, as in sowing wheat ^ 

 but the worst of the matter is, that this mode requires 

 a great deal of seed. In some countries the seed sell 

 at an enormous price. Seven pounds are required 

 for an acre when sown broadcast. There is one very 

 great advantage in this mode of sowing, which is, 

 that the cultivator can cull out the worst, and leave 

 the best plants growing, by which he will be certain 

 of an excellent crop. 



The third mode of sowing is very good. When 

 the seed are sown in drills, a harrow is used with very 

 fine teeth. Women in France sow the seed, by put* 

 ting them singly into the furrow, about twelve inches 

 apart. A cross harrow is then used, which is finer. 

 An acre may be sowed in this way, by four women, 

 which is a very great saving. 



The machine, for sowing the seed,, is considered 

 the most simple and economical of all the modes 

 enumerated. I will endeavor to describe it. The 

 machine is composed of a hopper, to receive the 

 seed ; the bottom is shaped like a cylinder of wood, 

 with cavities in the surface to receive the seed, the 

 cavities being sixteen inches asunder. Two wheels 

 support the machine, and in those wheels are teeth f 

 which give motion to the cylinder. The cylinder a^ 



